Unfortunately, her feeling of security was short-lived. She looked down to see the red dragon rising from the ground like a missile, its deadly mouth open wide and closing in on her. She flapped furiously to the left, narrowly missing the jaws that clamped down just inches away from her. The creature’s gnashing teeth sounded like a twenty-car pileup.
She flew as hard and as fast as she could but the dragon was in pursuit and gaining. If only Daphne had changed her into a faster bird! She flew to the left, then to the right, with the monster’s broiling breath scorching her little goose feet. No matter where she went, it followed. Even when she sank into the trees the dragon blasted through them, pulverizing huge oaks and giant maples like a child running through grass. She knew she couldn’t keep her pace for long; she was already tired and the tree limbs kept clipping her wings, making it impossible to coast on the breeze. Then one of the branches caught her across the chest, and she tumbled to the ground. The fall knocked the wind out of her. With her breath gone the best she could do was stagger to her feet and hop along the forest floor.
The red dragon landed in her path, and its head dipped down to look at her. Its milky-yellow eyes had two sets of lids, like a crocodile’s, and when they focused on her she could hear the creature let out a satisfied chuckle. It reared its head back, inhaling oxygen into its mouth and nose, apparently fueling the furnace inside it. Sabrina knew there was nothing she could do to escape and she braced herself for death.
“Run, child,” a voice said from above. Sabrina looked up to see Buzzflower floating above the dragon’s head. She waved a wand at the creature and a bolt of blue energy exploded into the dragon’s chest. The dragon screeched and fell backward.
Buzzflower turned to Sabrina. “RUN!”
Sabrina fled into the woods as fast as her legs would allow. She heard a horrible roar and turned to see flames rising up into the trees. She hoped that Buzzflower had not been the target of the fire and feared the worst when she felt the beast stomping behind her. She heard more fiery blasts and angry roars. And then it was in front of her, using its tail to knock down huge swaths of forest. It turned toward her, eyes focusing, and this time there was no chuckle. This time it was impatient.
Sabrina looked right at the creature. “Fine! You want to kill me. I’m right here. But if you were looking for a trophy for killing a Grimm you won’t get it. I’m weakened by this stupid spell. If I was my normal self you would never catch me.”
“You speak gibberish, child,” the dragon said, his voice like a thousand volcanoes exploding at once.
Child? How did he know she was a child? She looked down, wondering if he could see her true self through her magical transformation, and realized her feathers were gone. Her wings had vanished. Even the hard yellow beak was nowhere to be found. The magic had worn off and she was herself again.
“OK … good,” she grumbled. “Just in time to be roasted like a marshmallow.”
“Not tonight, big sister,” a voice said and suddenly she was hoisted upward and onto the flying carpet. Before Sabrina could hug Daphne they darted away, with the monster roaring in frustration.
“Hey, you changed back,” Daphne said. “See, I told you it was temporary!”
“You did not,” Sabrina said, trying to get her bearings.
“Well, I meant to,” Daphne said. She turned to Briar Rose, who held Uncle Jake’s head in her lap. “Briar, we need all the magic we can get. Can you dig in his pockets and see if there’s anything we can use to fight these dragons?”
“Preferably something with instructions,” Sabrina added.
Briar pulled out small bottles of strange liquids, weird rings, and even a smelly fur hat. She laid them all on the rug for Daphne and Sabrina to examine. “Anything?”
Daphne shook her head. “I don’t recognize any of that stuff.”
“Wait, there’s something else here,” the princess said as she pulled a small felt box from her boyfriend’s jacket. She flipped it open and her face lit up like a candle.
“What is it?” Daphne asked.
“Please tell me it’s the world’s tiniest rocket launcher,” Sabrina said.
Briar reached inside and took out a bright diamond ring. It was emerald-cut and mounted on a platinum band.
“Is that—?” Daphne gasped as she watched Briar Rose slip it on her ring finger. Though she was laughing and smiling widely, Briar’s cheeks were wet with tears.
“YES!” she cried. “Yes, I will marry you, Jacob Grimm.”
“You might want to wait until he’s awake,” Sabrina said.
“You may be right.” Briar giggled, took off the ring, and put it back in its box.
Then she slipped it back into Uncle Jake’s pocket.
Mallobarb joined them, flying alongside with a trail of glitter falling behind. “My wand has almost no effect on them,” she said. “It’s only making them angry.”
“Making who angry?” Uncle Jake said blearily as he tried to sit up.
“The dragons,” Daphne said. “Three of them are chasing us.”
“Look what happens when you take a nap,” Briar teased.
“Briar, you’ve been crying,” Uncle Jake said, taking her hand.